Does it scare you that one in three children in this country will be overweight or obese by their fifth birthday?

If it doesn't, it should.

"Essentially, the stage is set in elementary school," said Kathleen M. Laquale, PhD, ATC, LAT, LDN and Professor in the Movement Arts, Health Promotion, Leisure Studies Department at Bridgewater State University.

"That's when we need to really focus on diet, exercise and healthy behaviors. It's a three-pronged approach."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 12.5 percent of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 are obese. That's 12.5 million youth living with a considerable increased risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and other potentially deadly medical conditions.

"Kids need to be up and moving. They need to be active and also eating the right types of foods. Sometimes those things aren't so easy for families for a whole host of reasons," said Christine Gabdois, school nurse at the Charles S. Ashley Elementary School in New Bedford.

While the reality is that the obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled since 1980, the news isn't all bad. In fact, parents and educators alike are taking a stand.

Gabdois and her colleagues, for example, decided to take the initiative by involving students in "Fuel Up to Play 60", a program founded by the National Dairy Council and NFL, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture that encourages students to engage in small everyday changes that promote a healthier lifestyle.

While that sounds good, how does it translate to a second-grader?

At the Ashley School it only took a few simple changes to get the students excited.

"One of the things we did was start a morning walking program," said Gadbois, noting that most students would spend about 15 minutes each morning waiting in the cafeteria for the school day to begin.

Now they spend that time walking the perimeter of the cafeteria and, while it may not seem like much, it gets them moving and provides a healthy start to the day.

"They still get to socialize with their friends, but they also are getting their blood flowing," Gadbois said. "It also shows them that exercise doesn't have to be difficult. It's something you can do when you have a few extra minutes and it adds up."

Gadbois points to other subtle changes the school has made, such as the school's teachers and students taking part in a morning exercise program once a month and the cafeteria offering baked zucchini fries for lunch.

"They don't all like them, but they'll try them and that's what's important," she said. "We try to educate them on the importance of what they put into their bodies."

Gail Oliveira is a registered dietician and district manager with Chartwells, a food service provider that currently serves meals to more than 2,200 students daily in Fairhaven's five schools, including the high school, middle school, and three elementary schools.

"We have to be very creative in how we present the meals to the students and also how we budget when planning the menus," said Oliveira, noting that extremely strict federal guidelines enacted in July 2012 require schools to provide more fruits and vegetables and other, often more costly, whole grain options.

"A lot of the things they are asking for, we have been doing for a long time, but others are more challenging. When you look at the cost of the meal and what the students are getting in return, it isn't always even."

For example, forget the cardboard-like pizza of days gone by. Chartwells purchases pizza crust that is 50 percent whole grain and contains flaxseed oil. The pizzas are then prepared fresh for the students.

And Oliveira notes that this isn't only the case with schools that use Chartwells as a food service provider. School districts across the nation are providing their students with similar nutritious options.

"For some children, especially those from lower income areas, this is the most nutritious meal they are going to receive all day," she said.

While local schools are certainly stepping up their game in terms of promoting healthier lifestyles in their students, parents also need to take an active role in guiding their children to make the right decisions, officials said.

For example, how many parents are guilty of plying their children with treats to get them to behave?

"Instead of telling your child you'll get them a Happy Meal if they are good while you're out shopping, offer to take them to the playground instead," said Laquale. "What happens is, they begin to see food as a reward and, as they get older, that's what leads to emotional eating."

She insists that portion size is key.

"No one likes counting calories, but if you can show them a visual of a healthy serving size, it makes a real impression on them."